James j



- 2 Sheets- Sheet 2. '-J.--J."RINN. TENT.

6 N 0 Model.)

No. 528,392, Paten ted Oct. '30, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. RINN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,392, dated October30, 189 1.

Applieationfiled April 16, 1894:.

Serial No. 50 7 1761. (No model.)

To all whom/ it concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES J. RINN, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Fran cisco, in the county of San Francisco and State -ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tents;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

My invention relates to tents, and more par ticularly tomechanicaldevices for closing, holding, and locking the flaps whichcover the entrance opening and form the means of 'entrance and exit.

In an application for patent, Serial No. 488 298, filed October 16,189.3, I described and showed such a tent; and my present inven-] tionis designed to provide certain special improvements in the means foroperating and securingthe entrance flap.

In the patent application referred to I showed a tent having two endpoles and two flaps at each end, one intended to be secured to the pole,and the other to be locked to the pole when closed. Held in a pocket inthe edge of one or both of the flaps was a rigid strip of wood intendedto stiffen the edge, and when bearing against the pole, to form a muchcloser and better fit than ordinary flexible canvas edges could possiblybe made to give. v

In my present invention, I propose to use these strips for the samepurpose, but have made improvements in the manner of connecting thestrips together and to the pole, and in the means for locking them.

My improvements also relate to a construction by which the joint at theupper end of the flaps is protected, and also by means of which bothflaps maybe drawn entirely aside to make a large openingin the end ofthe tent.

All these improvements are shown in the accompanying drawings, and aredescribed herein in detail."

the same.

between the pole and strip. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the frontplate of the main lock. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 8is a side elevation and partial section of the pole and strip whenlocked with the main lock. Fig. 9 is a cross section of the strip,showing a top plan of the locking bolt shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is across section of the look at wm Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a side elevationpartly in section of the swing joint betwcen the tent pole and the stripin the edge of the closing flap. Fig. 12 is a front view of Figs. 13 and14 show a front view of a device for fastening theinner, flap to thetent pole. Figs. 15 and 16 are side elevations of the same. Fig. 17is across section on the line yy of Figs. 13 and 15, taken together.

A represents a tent composed of canvas or other material, and havingvertical tent poles B at the ends, which make up the height of the tent.The canvas is stretched over these in the usual way, and is preferablyformed Y with walls, as shown in the drawings, which make part of theheight of the tent.

The strips 1 and 2 in the pockets formed in the edges of the inner andouter flaps D and E are shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. I preferto wind the inner flap-D around the tent pole, as in my former patent,to insert the lower end of the strip 1 into the clip 31, and to secureitto the pole by means of the device shown in Fig. 17. A socket 3 ismadein the tent pole, inwhich works a pin 4. constantly pressed outward by ayielding spring 5. When the rigid edge strip of the inner flapis Wrappedaround the pole, the pin ll is pressed inward and the strip slips pastit into a bracket 6, secured to the pole, and is there held, the pinspringing out and making it impossibleto withdraw the strip withoutpushing in the pin. Besides the detail view Fig. 17, Fig. 1 shows theinner flap as secured to the pole in this manner.

v The outer flap E of the tent is ordinarily the entrance flap; and,while the inner flap is secured to the tent pole, the outer flapmay bepulled aside (Fig.1), to make an opening. In my' application beforereferred to, I showed the joint of this flap with the main body of thetent, as formed entirely bythe canvas or other material of the tent.This made a good joint, so f'aras freedom of motion was concerned; butsince the hinge is formed ontirely by the fabric, and since a lockingdevice is used at a point below to connect the flap to the tent pole, ithas been found that disadvantages attend the construction. In a tentexposed to the open air, sometimes wet and sometimes dry, the canvasexpands or contracts, and hence it is often difficult to lock the flap,because the locking devices do not come naturally and easily into theirproper places.

In my present invention, I provide a positive metallic universal joint Fbetween the movable flap and the tent pole, which permits a free openingmotion to the flap, and provides for its accurate return to its lockingposition. This joint is represented in Figs. 11 and 12, which show theupper part of the tent pole and the removable strip connected together.

To the pole is secured a plate 7, which is placed over and has anopening into asocket 8 in the pole. One member of the universal joint isa plate 9, having a hook-shaped bracket 10, which is pivoted by a pin 11in the plate 7. The strip 2 has at its upper end a channel piece havingcars 13, through which passes the pin 14 which rests on the hook when inuse. The dotted lines on the front of the plate (Fig. 12) and in thesection (Fig. 11) show a depression in the back of the channel piece forthe end of the strap 41, which is fastened to the canvas on the innerside and brought over between the cars 13, and fastened to the canvas onthe outer side; thus preventing the canvas from sliding down on thestrip. The strip can thus be moved outwardly by means of this pin 14,and can be turned transversely by the motion of the plate 9. This formsa universal joint; permitting the entrance flap to be moved freely, andyet holding its upper end so that no stretching or contracting of thecanvas will interfere with the accurate move ment of the whole flap. Thepin is preferably held up to its bearings by a spring 30. By means ofthis construction the joint is easily detached by unhooking the top ofthe strip from the rotary member of the joint.

In the ordinary tent, the entrance opening is of triangular shape,either equilateral (when both sides are opened) or isosceles (when onlyone is turned back). Itis thus diflicult to see through the ordinarytent opening, because the ordinary height of a man brings his eyes toabout the apex of the triangle. By slitting the canvas of the end flapsas shown in Fig. 2, and detaching the connecting joint and the innerstrip, I can make a wide opening as there shown, of almost the width ofthe tent front, or I can simply detach the universal joint and throwonly the flap E over, as shown in the right hand part of Fig. 2. Fig. 1shows the ordinary way of operating the flap E when the inner flap D iswrapped around the tent pole. Fig. 2 shows both flaps slitted as juststated and opened to their full extent, so as to give the utmost amountof light and ventilation, and the easiest means of entrance and exit.

When the door of the tent is closed, the triangular flaps 33 and 31 overthe entrance may be raised as shown in Fig. 2, thus securing goodventilation.

I now describe the lock which I prefer to use in this form of tent tosecure the outer flap E to the tent pole, around which the innor flaphas been Wrapped and fastened, as before described. I11 making thislook, my object is to permit the outer flap to be opened either from theoutside or inside, and at the same time to have no projecting knobs orshafts or removable parts. At the same time, I provide means forsecuring the look, so that when once fastened it cannot be opened fromthe outside. This lock is specially illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and10, but is conventionally shown in Figs. 1 and2. Referring first to Fig.8, the tent pole Bis shown in side elevation, and the outer strip 2 aslocked to it on the front (all the canvas being removed for clearness).To the front of the tent pole is secured the lock plate 15, which coversthe front and one side of the pole, and is shown as broken away topermit a section of the pole to be seen. The lock plate is formed with athimble 16, which fits in an open socket 17 in the pole, in which thebolt 18 slides. This bolt is firmly secured to the outer strip 2 (Fig.9), and when such outer strip is to be fastened, the bolt enters thethimble 16 and is held there by the latch 20. The latch is best shown inFigs. 6 and 8 taken together. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the lock plate asremoved from the tent pole. The latch 20 is pivoted to this plate at 21,and a spring 22 tends to force it into engagement with the notch 122 ofthe bolt. The bolt has a rounded or conical head to permit it to slidepast the edge of the latch until the notch engages. A spring follower 23is seated in the thimble 16 and bears upon the end of the bolt (Fig. 8)to throw it out when released. The latch is positively released by apush button 24 working in the side of the lock plate (Fig. 6), and whichis preferably a part of the latch itself projecting through a hole whereit can be pressed. If this button be moved inward, the latch turns uponits pivot, and the spring follower 23 is permitted to throw out the boltand unlock the outer flap.

The push button is of course always easily accessible from the interiorof the tent, by virtue of its position in the side of the pole; but as Iwish to be able to press it from the outside, I form in the canvas ofthe flap E a hole 25, covered by an inner flap 125, sewed down on threesides, and through which access may be had to the button. The flap maythus be locked or unlocked either from the inside or outside, whichmakes a very convenient construction in cases where it is desired toleave the tent locked and still have the lock easily accessible uponreturn.

Supposing the tent to have been locked in the manner described, it canbe unlocked by the means provided, either from the outside or inside;but itis desirable that the occupant of the tent should be able tosecure himself by rendering the lock inoperative from the outsidethrough the hole 25. This is accomplished by the pin 26 (Fig. 8), whichenters a hole bored in the inner or rear face of the tent pole and thenengages with the latch by a hole 27 formed in it.

The pin 26 is preferably secured to leather straps or holders 28 asshown. By pushing this pin in and engaging it with the latch theoccupant of the tent makes it impossible to move the push button fromthe outside. The hole or passage for the pin 26 is preferably drilled orbored from the'front through the lock plate'after the lock has been puton.

This will insure a coincidence or alignment of the passage in the tentpole and the hole through the latch, which it might otherwise bedifficult to have. The pin when not in use remains in place slightlydrawn back, being prevented by its strap from coming entirely out.

The tent can also be locked the tenant, so that it cannot be opened fromthe outside. This is accomplished by the means shown in Figs. 3 and 4,in which the tent pole is formed with a pocket or recess 29, in which ispivoted a hasp 30. A hole 310 is made in the strip 2 through which thehasp .is passed, and then a padlock secures the hasp in place. When notin use, the hasp drops down into its socket in the pole and remainsthere out of the way until it is needed.

When the slitted flaps are used as shown in Fig. 2, I prefer to coverthe slits by the triangular flaps 33, 34, which drop below them andexclude wind and rain from the interior, and also protect the universaljoint. These flaps can be drawn aside and up by the convenientarrangement of a cord 35, working in eyes 36, 37, 38, as shown in Figs.1 and 2. By'pulling upon the slack part of the cord (Fig. 1), the flapswill be pulled upwardly and outwardly (Fig. 2) and the cord secured bywinding it upon a button 39. By pulling upon the taut part of the cord(Fig. 1) the flaps will close, and enough of the slack of the cord canbe wound around the button 40 to keep the flaps down and in place.

It might be thought that by raising these flaps and thus getting accessto the universal joint, the outer strip might be detached, and accessthus had to the interior; but it will be seen that as the outer strip isrigidly locked to the pole, it is impossible to detach the members ofthe universal joint.

I make the vertical diameter of the hole in plate and socket greaterthan the diameter of the bolt, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, to allow forany expansion or contraction in the pole and strip or any inaccuracy insetting the upper plate 7. Shown in Fig. 11.

The edges of the upper plate 7 and the lock plate extend slightly aroundthe pole,

when left by as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, for additional strength toplate and pole. Also the clamps or washers on the outer strip 2 extendpartly around the same to keep it from splitting, as shown in Figs. 9and 12.

When the connection shown in Fig. 5 is used, the canvas is not slitted,butis arranged as shown in Fig. 13 in my other case filed with this.case for fastening the canvas with a strap at the lower end of strip 2.

For transportation, strips 1 and 2 are taken from the pockets andlatched to the pole as when the tent is closed and the push pin in theback of the pole is pushed in. It is thus easily arranged andsubstantially secured.

In my application for patent referred to, I showed the inner flap asWrapped around the The same means are also used in this pole and theresecured. In the present case,

I have shown the inner flap as wrapped in the same manner and secured bythe devices shown in Figs. 15 and 17. Now itis not necessary that theinner flap should be wrapped around the pole, because the inner stripcan be secured to the side of the pole without crossing the front orwrapping behind. The spring pin and bracket shown in Figs. 15 and 17 areadapted to serve as a locking device of this character. Thisleaves thefront of the end pole bare and avoids cutting canvas away from theinnerflap to give access to the lock plate.

In order to distinguish this case from the companion case, Serial No.488,298,I may say that the main feature of invention is the universaljoint between the tent pole and the rigid strip in the entrance flap;while in pen ding case, Serial No. 507,762, the joint between the endpole and the rigid strip is capable of sliding vertically instead ofhaving two per-. manent centers of movement as in the present case.

What I claim is- 1. A tent having an end pole and an entrance flap, arigid strip secured at the edge of the entrance flap, and auniversaljoint by which the upper end of such strip is secured to thetent pole, substantially as described.

2. A tent having an end pole and an entrance flap, a rigid strip securedat the edge of the entrance flap and a universal joint between the stripand the tent pole, composed of members detachable from one another,substantially as described.

3. A tenthaving an end pole and an entrance flap, a rigid strip securedto the edge of the entrance flap, a detachable universal joint betweensaid strip and pole and a horizontal slit in the entrance flap near thejun tion point, substantially as described.

4. In a tent, a tent pole and an entrance fiap having a rigid stripsecured at its edge, a

universal joint between said pole and said strip consisting of a rotarymember pivoted in the pole, and a swinging member pivoted to said rotarymember, substantially as described.

5. In atent, a tent pole and an entrance flap having a rigid stripsecured at its edge, a universal joint consisting of a rotary platepivoted to the pole, and having a hooked bracket, and a hinge on the endof the rigid strip connected to said bracket, so as to swingindependentlyof the rotary movement of the said plate, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a tent having an end pole, end flaps slitted transversely for thepurpose described, and outer vertically movable flaps for covering saidslits and having operating means for opening and closing themsubstantially as described and shown.

7. In a tent, an end pole around which one of the flaps is. wrapped andremovably secured, another end flap forming the entrance door and havinga rigid strip at its edge, a universal joint between the said strip andthe tent pole, and an automatic lockin g device for securing theentrance flap to the pole.

8. In a tent having an end pole and inner and outer end flaps eachhavinga rigid strip at its edge, a locking device for the inner stripconsisting of the spring pin 4 in the tent pole, and a bracket 6,whereby the inner strip when wrapped around the pole is held in saidbracket by said pin, substantially as described and shown.

9. In combination with the tent pole and with the outer or entranceflap, an automatic look, a means for releasing the loclnoperated fromthe outside, and a pin controlled from the inside for rendering thereleasing means inoperative, substantially as set forth.

10. In combination with the tent pole, a strip in the edge of theentrance flap, a projecting bolt or catch fastened to said strip toengage a looking or latching device secured to the pole, and a pushbutton for releasing said locking device and permitting the flap to beopened, substantially as set forth.

11. In combination with a tent having an end pole and an entrance flap,a lock. for securing the flap to the end pole consisting of a boltsecured to said entrance flap, a socket in the pole in to which saidbolt enters, a latch for engaging the bolt when in the socket and a pushbutton for moving and releasing the latch, substantially as set forth.

12. In combination with a tent having an end pole and an entrance flap,a lock for securing the flap to the pole, consisting of a bolt securedto the entrance flap, a socket in the pole into which said bolt enters,a pressure spring in said socket, a pivoted latch for looking the boltwhen in the socket, and a push button for moving and releasing thelatch, substantially as described and shown.

13. In combination with a tent having an end pole and an entrance flapprovided with a rigid strip at its edge, a lock for securing the saidflap to the pole consisting of a notched bolt secured in said strip, alock plate on the pole having a front opening to admit said bolt into asocket in the pole, a latch adapted to enter the notch in the bolt, anda push button for operating said latch and releasing the bolt and strip,substantially as described.

14.. In combination with a tent having an end pole and an entrance flapprovided with a rigid strip at its edge, a lock for securing the saidflap to the pole consisting of a notched bolt secured in said strip, anangular lock plate on the pole having a front opening to admit said boltinto a socket in the pole, a spring latch-lever pivoted to the plate,adapted to enter the notch in the bolt, and a push button for operatingsaid latch and releasing the bolt and strip, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a tent having an end pole and an entrance flapof a sliding bolt in the flap, a pivoted latch on the pole, and a pushbutton for releasing the latch, and a. pin working through the tent polefrom the inside and engaging the latch, and inaccessible from theoutside, substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 9th day of April, 1894.

JAMES J. RINN. Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY, J. SAULMANN.

